AGN, such as blazars, are most often observed during flare states, primarily due to ease of detection. We report microvariability observations of one blazar, however, while in a historically low state. Comparisons of the amplitude of the variability between high and low states are made. These observations strongly suggest that the relativistic jet associated with the central source of this object is responsible for the observed microvariability (as opposed to a source within the accretion disk).
Cite
@article{arxiv.1104.3887,
title = {3C 279 in an Optical Faint State},
author = {H. R. Miller and H. Clemmons and J. D. Maune and J. R. Eggen and D. Gudkova and J. R. Parks},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1104.3887},
year = {2011}
}